Process of producing imitation tree bark



Oct. 22, 1940. w, BURKE PROCESS OF PRODUCING IMITATION TREE BARK FiledFeb. 2, 1959 Patented Oct.

UNITED "STATES PATIENT OFFICE William" H. Burke, Superior, Wis.,'assignor of one-half to Robert Oi Ware, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 2, 1939, Serial No.-254,226

V Y 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in an imitation tree bark orotherobjects having a multiplicity of surface formations and in the processof producing the same.

It isan object of; this invention to provide an imitation tree bark foruse in the production of natural appearing tree trunks, limbs, stumps,logs, rails and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an object that isflexible, self sustaining, that can be spread out fiat, rolled, and thusheld or shaped around a frame, for instance, a tree trunk forming frame,a column, or other support.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear. I

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novelconstruction and. the arrangement of parts and. the process of producingthe same.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

- Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a face view showing a sheet of the improved imitation treebark;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the backing having a portion of its surfacecovered with fillers;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the facing strips;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the fillers in theprocess of being rolled;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the filler shown in Fig. 5; I

Fig. '7 is a view of the completed fillers, bent to prevent the samefrom unrolling; and

Fig. 8 is a modification showing a different type of filler.

It is thought that this invention will bebest understood by a detaileddescription of the different steps in the process of making theimitation tree bark, which as shown, consists of a backing or base 9 ofheavy kraft paper, a plurality 5 of fillers l0, and a facing comprisinga plurality.

of strips of cloth ll, such as cambric or other suitable flexiblematerial. It will of course bev understood that this backing 9, may bemade from cloth, wall board, or wood in sheet form 50 as a foundation.

The filler l0, shown in Figs. 5-6 and 7, is formed by rolling a sheet ofpaper such as news print or any other soft, absorbent of paper.

In Fig. 8 the filler I2 is made from a piece 55 of hemp rope or longfibres.

The first step in the improved process is in laying the backing 9 flaton a table or other suitable support. The second step in the process isthe dipping of the fillers H! in a liquid adhesive and in placing thesame on the backing 9, inrows at odd intervals and also in'bending oneor more of the fillers to circular form to form the foundation for adepression or knot hole. I

The adhesive in which the fillers ID are dipped of course secures saidfillers to the backing 9, and when this adhesive is dry the third stepin the improved process is started which consists of immersing one ofthe facing strips ll in a liquid adhesive sothat the same is thoroughlysaturated therewith and then in spreading and stretching this strip overasectionof the back- I ing 9 and on the respective filler l0. The fourthstep in the improved process consists of shaping the facing strip H overthe fillers ill and during this process the round fillers 10 are pinchedto flatten or elongate the same to take out the regularity thereof. Thefacing strip II is also pressed onto the backing 9 between the fillersl0 and puckered and shaped to give the facing strip H a bark likesurface. This fourth step in the process is repeated until the entiresurface of the backing 9 is covered with the facing strips II.

The adhesive with which the facing strips II are saturated, secure saidstrips tothe backing '9 and the fillers I0 and when dry stiffens saidstrips so that the bark like surface is hard and the formations thereinwill retain their shape.

v Finally the facing strips Hare painted to represent the bark of agiven tree. v

The liquid adhesives heretofore referred to may beany suitable sizingthat forms a suitable binder between the backing 9, fillers'lll andfacing strips l l and stiffen said facing strips so that the bark likeformations thereon will retain their shape.

From the above description it is evident that thecomplete product iscapable of being rolled or shaped around a suitable form without damagethereto. It is also evident that the improved product is self-sustainingand will retain its shape.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the structures describedabove are capable of modifications within the spirit of the inventiondisclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

l. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a productconsisting; first in providing a backing and a pliable facing therefore;second in rolling a filler from a piece of paper and in laying the sameon the backing; third in applying a sizing to the facing and in applyingthe facing to the backing and over the filler; and finally in shapingthe facing over the filler in applying pressure to the filler to distortthe same and in puckering the facing to produce formations thereon. 1

2. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a productconsisting; first in providing a backing and a pliable facing therefore;second in rolling a filler from an absorbent sheet and in laying thesame on the backing and in securing the same in place by an adhesive;third in applying a sizing to the facing and in applying the facing tothe backing and over the filler; and finally in shaping the facing overthe filler, in applying pressure to the filler to distort the same andin puckering the facing to produce formations thereon.

3. The process defined in claim 2 in which the filler is dipped in theadhesive.

4. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a productconsisting; first in providing a backing and a fabric facing therefore;second in rolling a plurality of fillers from absorbent sheets and inbending the same to prevent the same from unrolling; third in dippingthe fillers in a liquid adhesive and laying the same on the backing;fourth in applying a sizing to the facing and in applying the facing tothe backing over the fillers; and finally in shaping the facing over thefillers, and applying pressure to the fillers through the facing todistort the same and in puckering the facing to produce formationsthereon.

5. The process of producing a formation on a product consisting, first,in providing a backing, a pliable filler that is relatively long andprimarily substantially straight, and a pliable facing; second in layingthe filler on the backing, in bending the same to give a desiredformation thereto and in securing the same to the backing by anadhesive; and finally, in applying a sizing to the facing and laying thefacing on the backing over the filler, and thereafter in shaping thefacing around the filler.

6. The process of producing a formation on a product consisting, firstin providing a backing and a pliable facing therefor; second in rollinga filler from a piece of paper; third in applying an adhesive to thefiller, in laying the filler on the backing and in bending the same togive a desired formation thereto; and finally, in applying a sizing tothe facing, in laying the facing on the backing over the filler andthereafter in shaping the facing around the filler.

WILLIAM H. BURKE.

